Who is Vicky Karayiannis? Chris Cornell's widow mourns after Soundgarden star's death

Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell has died at the age of 52, leaving behind wife Vicky Karayiannis and three children.

Karayiannis reportedly called a friend to check on Cornell at the MGM Grand hotel in Detroit after his performance with Soundgarden earlier in the evening. Detroit Police are now investigating a possible suicide as the cause of death.

Karayiannis, who is of Greek heritage, is a former publicist who previously worked in Paris.

In 2003, Cornell met Karayiannis in France while on tour with his other band Audioslave and proposed soon after at a Paris bar. After celebrating their engagement with celebrities like Adriana Lima and Eva Herzigova, the couple tied the knot in 2004 with entertainment agent Jeff Kwatinetz acting as best man and late Hollywood actress Brittany Murphy as maid of honour.

During their 13-year marriage, Cornell and Karayiannis became parents to two children – Toni, 12, and Christopher, 11. The rocker was also father to daughter Lillian Jean, 16, from his first marriage to music manager Susan Silver.

Opening up about his relationship with Karayiannis, Cornell told Details magazine in 2012: "When I met my wife Vicky's family, I had to go out of my way to convince them – to show them – that I wasn't anything like their idea of a musician."

In 2012, the couple went into business together to launch the Chris & Vicky Cornell Foundation, a charity to help vulnerable children facing poverty and abuse. The You Know My Name singer once told the Seattle Times of their charity's work: "I was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time to make a career doing something I love. Not every kid gets those opportunities. I'm in a fortunate position to use music to support important causes that help foster change."

Cornell and Karayiannis are known to have had a supportive relationship even in the days leading up to the singer's death. Karayiannis often retweeted posts promoting Cornell's bands while the musician posted a string of touching tweets to his wife on US Mother's Day (14 May), just three days before he died.

The posts read: "To my @vickycornell you are an angel and a lioness. The perfect mother and the perfect wife. I love you! Happy #MothersDay2017. Happy Mother's Day to my mom @ToniKaras you thank for giving me the love of my life."